Honouring Mabel and Janet

November is traditionally the month when we remember all those - especially our loved ones - who have gone before us, and whose memory is a blessing and inspiration for us. This year, though, our remembrance began five days early...

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On Monday 27th October, eighteen RSCJ were joined by Fleur Anderson MP, Gillian, Countess Castle Stewart (a relative of Janet Stuart), representatives from our Network of Sacred Heart Schools, and leaders from Roehampton University and Wandsworth Council, for the unveiling of a Green Heritage plaque celebrating the life and work of Mabel Digby RSCJ and Janet Erskine Stuart RSCJ. The plaque has been awarded by Wandsworth Council and is located on the exterior wall of Digby Stuart College, close to the original doors on Roehampton Lane. The ceremony therefore took place on the road - it was a lovely sight to see bus drivers and pedestrians travelling past peering over to see what was taking place.

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For just over forty years Mabel and Janet had a profound influence on the mission and expansion of the Society of the Sacred Heart, in this country and across the world. They both spent many years living at the convent in Roehampton, where, in 1874, Mabel founded our first teacher training college. In 1946 this was renamed Digby Stuart in their honour, and is now part of the University of Roehampton.

Fleur Anderson, MP for Putney spoke beautifully about the remarkable achievements of Janet and Mabel, and reminded everyone that their legacy continues to this day – even in her own field, as a friend and colleague of the four Sacred Heart Members of Parliament! Their former schools, in Hammersmith (West London) and Fenham, Newcastle, were founded by Mabel and Janet respectively.

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Fleur spoke about the transformative power of education and concluded her speech with these words from Janet:

'Aim at the very highest and the best, but understanding that to get this is a life's work, not the work of a day, so never let failure cast down or disappoint you, but always begin again with great courage and especially great confidence.'

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